Komodo · Month comparison

December vs May

May ranks #1 overall vs December at #9. Excellent conditions across the board — manta rays, dragons and world-class diving all on offer

Komodo National Park in the wet season with dramatic clouds

December

#9 of 12 months

Worth considering

Wet season Komodo — proceed with flexibility or consider waiting for April conditions

  • Good rates throughout; the Christmas/New Year period has a small uptick but overall affordable
  • Komodo dragon viewing possible even in the wet season with advance ranger booking
Komodo National Park pristine beach and turquoise bay in dry season

May

#1 of 12 months

Best match

Excellent conditions across the board — manta rays, dragons and world-class diving all on offer

  • Manta ray season in full swing at Manta Point and Cauldron dive sites
  • Crystal visibility (25-30m) at top dive sites; Batu Bolong a technicolour reef wall
FactorDecemberMay
Weather score
4
9
Value score
7
6
Crowd score
5
6
Events score
3
6
Atmosphere
5
9
Avg high temp32°C33°C
Monthly rain163mm28mm
Daily sunshine6.5hrs9.5hrs

December trade-offs

  • Rough seas, rain and limited visibility make this the least reliable month for diving
  • Some boat departures cancelled without refund; travel insurance essential

May trade-offs

  • Season well underway; book liveaboards minimum 2 months in advance
  • Labuan Bajo increasingly busy; accommodation in the town at moderate-season prices
Scores compare months within Komodo. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →